Brightening up your hospital visit

A stay at hospital is never meant to be a memorable occasion - but at least the Cub Scouts of the 1st Bowdens Scout group have gone some way to making that stay a little brighter.

They have been working with construction company Morgan Sindall to provide patients and staff with pastoral views during construction of the new health facility, which is due to open in early 2017.

The Cubs of Arapaho and Sioux packs, who are based in Little Bowden, have painted panels depicting rural scenes to brighten up the hoardings which separate the existing hospital from the building site.

The hoardings have been installed to protect the privacy of patients during the construction work.

More than 40 Cubs, young leaders and leaders from 1st Bowdens have been working over the last four weeks to decorate the panels. The activity is part of the group’s Million Hands Project, earning the Cubs their Community Impact Badge and helping to celebrate the 100th centenary year of Cubs in the UK.

The project was facilitated by Morgan Sindall, which provided the paint, brushes and timber, with the aim of improving the view for patients and staff during the building work.

The site team is also planning to install hanging baskets later in the summer.

Maria Ward, matron for St Luke’s existing two inpatient wards, said: “The panels are a brilliant way to brighten up the views of our patients and their visitors, and will be very much appreciated.

“I would like to thank the Cubs for their thoughtfulness and skill in doing this work for the benefit of others.

“I would also like to thank Morgan Sindall for agreeing to put up the panels and for paying for the materials.”

David Sawford, group Scout leader at 1st Bowdens, said: “I am immensely proud of how the Cubs embraced this activity with enthusiasm, excitement and a real understanding of what positive impact it will have on the patients and staff of St Luke’s.”

Richard Fielding, area director at Morgan Sindall, added: “We’re pleased with how construction on the Market Harborough facility is progressing, and proud to support the 1st Bowdens Cub Scouts in this thoroughly commendable project.

“When finished, the new facility will provide the people of Market Harborough with a state-of-the-art healthcare offering. These brilliantly decorated panels will undoubtedly be welcomed by both staff and patients.”